Pallet construction for case unloading machine



A ril 23, 1963 R. F. KRU PP ETAL 3,086,668

PALLET CONSTRUCTION FOR CASE UNLQADING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1960 INVENTORS Robert F. Krupp y Jan K.Wagner April 23, 1963 R. F. KRUPP ETAL 3,085,668

PALLET CONSTRUCTION FOR CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Filed April 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

F lg. 5. 269D is L 1 7 W I87 ass-J A? I h I HII blgzo I I 252 [L I 257/; I90 257 I92 JNVENTORS Robert F. Krupp By Jon K. Wagner wd/WW 3,086,668 PALLET CONSTRUCTION FOR CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Robert F. Krupp and Jan K. Wagner, Oakland, Calif., assignors to Gerber Products Company, Fremont, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 23,801 Claims. (Cl. 214-309) This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in palletconstruction'for jar unloading machines and comprises an improvement of Patent No. 2,818,987, and a continuation-in-part of co-pending Application Serial No. 672,618, filed July 18, 1957, now Patent No. 3,019,- 924, for Container Case Feeding and Opening Means.

One important feature of the invention relates'to improved jar handling means wherein a plurality of pallets is employed, each having relatively movable plates to expand rubber cups positioned inside the containers so as to grip the containers preparatory to stripping the case therefrom. One of the improvements of the present invention relates to an improved cup construction which prevents collapse of the cup and insures outward expan sion thereof.

Another improvement relates to an improved cup construction wherein attachment of the cup to one of the plates of the pallet is facilitated.

Another feature of the invention is an improved latch mechanism to prevent relative movement of at least some of the plates when a particular pallet is inoperative during a portion of the cycle of the machine, as when the pallet is inverted.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of means on the pallet to accommodate containers of difterent heights so that changeover of the machine may be accomplished without raising and lowering the entire machine, as required in prior constructions.

Other features and advantages of the invention are set forth in Patent No. 2,818,987.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the pallet.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the latch mechanism taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a hollow cup and associated parts.

The unloading pallet which is the subject of this inventionresembles in many details that shown in Patent No. 2,818,987, and the cooperative relationship of parts of the pallet shown in that patent and other structure of the unloading machine is illustrated and described in that patent. Accordingly, corresponding parts of said patent are designated herein by similar reference numerals increased by 200 in the drawings and following description.

Each pallet 249 comprises a plurality of parallel plates which move relative to each other in the cycle of operation of the machin'el' The carrier plate 251 carries a pair of outwardlyextending rollers 276 at either end which travel in tracks 277 which govern the elevation of the carrier plate. Carrier plate 251 is moved by chains 243, adapter links of which are connected to carrier plate 251. An upward extension 282 of carrier plate 3,888,688 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 251 is formed with an elongated vertical slot 283 on opposite sides of the pallet. Horizontal pivot support 186A interconnects the upper ends of extensions 282 and provides a pivot for the latch mechanism hereinafter described in detail.

Spaced above carrier plate 251 are three parallel plates 252, 253, 256 and below plate 251 is plate 254. Intermediate plates 251 and 254 is plate 201. Top plate 253, which is denominated the case stripping plate, carries a roller 286 which projects into and slides vertically in slot 283 and also roller 284 which travels in track 291 The plate below case stripping plate 253 is denominated the cup elevating and lowering plate 252. This plate likewise has a laterally projecting roller 281 which slides vertically in slot 283 and a roller 279 in track 291. Be-

low carrier plate 251 is cup compressing plate 254 and stripping plate 253 and extend through suitable apertures in the other plates so that strip pins 257 not only perform the function of stripping 01f the Shipping container, but also align the other plates in their movement during the cycle of operation of the machine. Strip pins 25 7 project beyond the lower surface of cup compression plate 254 and contact the upper edges of the dividers when the shipping case is being stripped from the containers.

Connected to cup elevating and lowering plate 252 is a plurality of spacer sleeves 258. Shoulder 259 is formed on sleeve 258 leaving a neck 261 on the upper end thereof surrounding which is a spring 262. The lower end of spring 262 is received in a fitting 202 having at its lower end an enlarged head 203 below plate 256 and resting on shoulder 259 and at its upper end a smaller collar 204 which fits within an aperture in plate 256 and is secured to plate'256. The lower portions of spacers 258 pass through apertures in plate 251 and 201 and are fixed to plate 254.

Second spacers 266 are fixed to plates 256 and 281 and I pass through suitable apertures in plate 251.

The foregoing construction insures that although the distance between plates 252 and 254 is a fixed and invariable distance, the distance between plates 254 and 256 is variable. By reason of the connection of plate 201 to plate 256, the distance between plates 254- and 201 is likewise variable. The pressure of spring 262 tends to maintain plates 254 and 256 at a fixed distance, but upon compression of springs 262 this distance may be varied during the cycle of operation of the machine.

Fixed to and projecting downwardly from plate 201 is a plurality of cup support rods 266 corresponding in number to the number'of jars in each case and positioned'immediately above the center of each jar when in positionin'said case. Each rod 266 has an enlarged head 267 on its lower end.- Pliable rubber cups 268 are interposed between heads 267 'and plate 254. A number'of longitudinally extending slots 269 are formed in cups' 268, slots 269 extending upwardly from the bottom of cups 268 approximately two-thirds of the length thereof. Cups 268 areformed hollow with an external collar 268 which sets in a counterbored hole 254* in plate 254. Immediately above the top of slots 269 is an'internal rounded protuberance 269 Aninternal rounded groove 269 is formed in cup 268 about halfway up the length of slot 269. The construction of cups'268 is such that with support'rods 266 and head 267 held stationary, downward movement of plate 254 compresses cups 268 and causes them to bend outwardly. The normal or relaxed diameter of cups 268 is substantially less than the interior diameter of the jars so the cups may readily be inserted inside the interiors of the jars. However, upon compression of the cups, they swell and .grip the interiors of the jars.

Thus when, in the cycle of operation, rollers 279 are depressed by track 291, plate 252 is depressed and lowers plates 256, 254, and 201 and cups 268 carried by plate 254 into the open mouths of the containers. When plate 256 contacts plate 251, cups 268 are compressed by reason of the relative movement of plate 254 and rods 266, the enlarged heads 267 of which compress the cups. The compression of spring262 accommodates the compression of the cups.

When containers of different heights are to be handled, guide pins 257, spacers 258 and second spacers 266 are replaced for parts of proper length. For the tallest jar, plate 201 and second spacers 286 are omitted and rods 266 are provided of sutficient length to fasten to plate 256.

To reduce weight of the pallet, the plates 252, 253 and 251 are formed with apertures 207 and 208, respectively. Other plates may be formed with similar apertures to reduce weight.

Latch means is provided to latch the plates in position to prevent damage to the parts when the pallet is not in operative position in the cycle of operation of the machine. For such purpose a locking lever 187 is fixed to tube 186. One end of locking lever 187 is con nected to the upper end of a helical spring 188, the lower end of which is fixed to carrier plate 251. The opposite end of locking lever 187 carries a cam follower roller 189 which at intervals in the operation of the machine engages a cam (not shown). This causes oscillation of pivot tube 186 around pivot support 186*. Plates 252 and 253 are apertured and are formed with transverse members 190 and 190 Fixed to pivot tube 186 is a latch bar 191 having two projecting lugs 192, 192 which engage transverse members 190 and 190 and lock plates 252 and 253 in position relative to each other. When cam follower 189 is not in contact with its cam, spring 188 biases the projections 192, 192 to latched position. When cam follower roller 189 is depressed, tube 186 is turned in a clockwise direction, causing projections 192, 192 to be disengaged from transverse members 190, 190 and permitting relative movement of the plates. The timing ,of the cam-actuating roller 189 is such that lugs 192 and 102 engage under their respective plates in the interval of the cycle of operations when the plates are elevated relative to carrier plate 251.

The forward ends of pallets 249 carry depending fingers 331 which engage behind the trailing edges of outwardly projecting side flaps of the case and move the cases along in proper position centered relative to cups Although the foregoing inventionhas been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Container handling apparatus comprising a carrier plate, means for advancing said carrier plate, a stop plate above said carrier plate, a cup elevating and lowering plate above said stop plate, a cup-compressing plate below said carrier plate, at least one resilient cup below said cup-compressing plate dimensioned when in contracted position to fit within the mouth of a container, a fourth plate between said carrier plate and said cupcompressing plate, a rod rigidly-connecting the lower end of said cup and said fourth plate, a first spacer between said cup elevating and lowering plate and said cup-compressing plate for lowering said cup-compressing plate relative to said fourth plate to expand said cup to grip the inside of said container, said first spacer also engaging said stop plate to insure minimum spacing between said stop plate and said cup-compressing plate, a second spacer rigidly connecting and spacing apart said stop plate and said fourth plate and first detachable means for connecting said second spacer to said stop plate and said fourth plate, and second detachable means for connecting said first spacer to said cup-compressing plate, said cup elevating and lowering plate and said stop plate, whereby said first spacer and said second spacer 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a case stripping plate above said cup elevating plate and at least one stripping pin depending from said case stripping plate and extending through apertures in each of said other plates.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 which further comprises third detachable means connecting said stripping pin to said case stripping plate, whereby said stripping pin may be replaced to accommodate containers of different heights. 7

5. Container-handling apparatus comprising a pallet, a carrier plate on said pallet, means for advancing said pallet, a plurality of plates movable with said carrier plate in the direction of advance of said pallet and movable toward and away from said carrier plate in a direction transverse to the direction of advance of said pallet, a plurality of cups carried by said pallet, means operable upon movement of some of said plates relative to said carrier plate to expand said cups to containergripping position to .grip containers and to relax said ,cups in the cycle of operation of the apparatus, a latch lever, means mounting said latch lever on said pallet for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to said plates and transverse to the direction of advance of said pallet between latching and unlatching positions, said lever having at least two projections spaced from each other and,

positioned each to fit under the edge of one of said plates to restrain movement of said plates relative to said carrier plate, means biasing said lever to one of said positions, and actuating means carried by said lever operable to pivot said lever to the other of said positions upon contact of said actuating means by an external force, said actuating means having a locking lever fixedfor pivotal movement with said latch lever about said axis and extending generally parallel to said plates and in the direction of movement of said pallet, and a cam follower roller on one end. of said locking lever, said roller projecting above the maximum elevation of said pallet, said means biasing said lever being connected to said locking lever on the side of said axis opposite said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,607,620 Oliveri Aug. 19, 1952 2,716,479 Coder et a1 Aug. 30, 1955 2,818,987 Krup et al. Jan. 7, 1958 

1. CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A CARRIER PLATE, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID CARRIER PLATE, A STOP PLATE ABOVE SAID CARRIER PLATE, A CUP ELEVATING AND LOWERING PLATE ABOVE SAID STOP PLATE, A CUP-COMPRESSING PLATE BELOW SAID CARRIER PLATE, AT LEAST ONE RESILIENT CUP BELOW SAID CUP-COMPRESSING PLATE DIMENSIONED WHEN IN CONTRACTED POSITION TO FIT WITHIN THE MOUTH OF A CONTAINER, A FOURTH PLATE BETWEEN SAID CARRIER PLATE AND SAID CUPCOMPRESSING PLATE, A ROD RIGIDLY CONNECTING THE LOWER END OF SAID CUP AND SAID FOURTH PLATE, A FIRST SPACER BETWEEN SAID CUP ELEVATING AND LOWERING PLATE AND SAID CUP-COMPRESSING PLATE FOR LOWERING SAID CUP-COMPRESSING PLATE RELATIVE TO SAID FOURTH PLATE TO EXPAND SAID CUP TO GRIP THE INSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID FIRST SPACER ALSO ENGAGING SAID STOP PLATE TO INSURE MINIMUM SPACING BETWEEN SAID STOP PLATE AND SAID CUP-COMPRESSING PLATE, A SECOND SPACER RIGIDLY CONNECTING AND SPACING APART SAID STOP PLATE AND SAID FOURTH PLATE AND FIRST DETACHABLE MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND SPACER TO SAID STOP 